Automatic rewinding devices for webs of paper and the like



May 28, 1963 J. CHAMBON 3,091,412

AUTOMATIC REWINDING DEVICES FOR WEBS OF PAPER AND THE LIKE Filed June 20, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y \1 a maf@ mk 0 @In q i i May 28, 1963 1 J. cHAMBoN AUTOMATIC- REWINDING DEVICES FOR WEBS OF PAPER AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1960 May 28, 1963 1 J. CHAMBON 3,091,412

AUTOMATIC REWINDING DEVICES FOR WEBS OF PAPER AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 20. 1960 United States Patent Otlce 3,09 l ,412 Patented May 2 8, 1.963

The present invention relates to a rewinding machine for webs or bands of paper, cardboard, cellulose nlm or other simil-ar materials such as are used on reel-fed ma- Qhines, .for example rotary printing machines- Generally, Vit is necessary to stop a rewind-,ing machine when a reel is filled 'and replaced by an empty rewind mandrel t which the ,end of the web ,iS Stuck- Illes@ Opera- )tions waste time and a good deal lof .paper or the like.

object of the invention is the provision of a device which will enable the web to be cut and to be automatically transferred to a new Imandrel when the current `reel has received a predetermined length of rewound web.

By such a machine the rewinding operation is eiected automatically without its being necessary to stop the machine. iIt is sufficient simply to replace the iinished reels, as they are completed, by empty mandrels.

Other objects and a `fuller understanding of the invention may be had -by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a view, in longitudinal vertical section, of one form of an automatic rewinding device according to the invention.

'FIGURE 2 is a diagram of the device for eliminating the pressure from the suction drum.

FIG-URE 3 is a diagram of the electrical circuits which control this device; and

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of another preferred form of automatic rewinding device. As shown yin FIG. l, the automatic rewinding device according to the invention comprises a pair of traction rollers :4 and 5 drawing the web 3 to the rotary cutting ldevice designated in its entirety by the number 6. This web 3 is delivered through a pair of feed rollers l1 and 2 which may, for example, form part of a printing machine.

The rotary cutting device 6 comprises, as is usual, a rotary cylinder'7 carrying a knife 8 and a counterknife 9 carried by a lever 11.` The lever 11 -is journalled upon a spindle 12 and carries at one of its ends a roller 1-3 which Vis presse-d against a cam 14 by a spring 115.

The lever 11 has .a tooth 11a which may be engaged by means of a detent which is biassed by a spring 17. The Vdetent `,16 is actuated by an electromagnet 18.

In the drawing, the counter-knife I9 is shown in .the ef.- fective cutting position and comes into contact with the lgnife 8. In this position the detent 16 is 4disengaged from Vthe tooth 11a. The cam 14 makes one complete turn per cycle of the machine, this cycle being determined by 4the rotation of one turn of a rotary endless suction conveyor. device comprises a suction drum y19* with which the web 3 comes into contact after passing the rof tarycutting device 6 and a pair o f rollers 21 and 422.

During the rewinding operation, the counterknife 9 of the rotary cutting device is normally deilected downwards so that the knife 8 does not come into contact with it. -In this position the tooth 11a of the lever :1&1 is engaged with the detent 16.

The lsuction d-rum 19 is pierced with holes 19a over one.

segment of its periphery. The interior of this drum is connected by means of a channel 23 (lFIG. 2), in which an electrically operated valve `24 is interposed, with a vacuum chamber 25 in which a vacuum is maintained by means of a pump 26. During .the rewinding operation, the electrically operated valve 24 is closed so that there is only atmospheric pressure inside the drum 19.

The rotary cutting device is connected eiectively with :the suction dnnn y19 in such a way that the cylinder 7 effectsr a number of complete turns that is .an integral multiple of the number of revolutions of the suction drum 19 "(e.g. three turns of the cylinder 7 to one turn of the f, drum 19).

The suction drum 19 is rotated in such a way that its circumferential speed is very slightly more than the circumferential speed of the `feed rollers 1 and .2, so that the 'y =web 3 :is slightly stretched. The web 3 pasess between the drum 19 and an apron or belt 27, one end of which passes round a fixed roller 28 and the other end round a movable roller 29 mounted at one end of `a lever 311. rIihe position of this lever 3.1 and, in consequence, the tension of It-he belt, may be regulated by mean-s. of a screw 32.

The upper part of the framework Yof the device comprises t-wo inclined guide channels 33 and 34, in which travel the man-drels 35 and 36 o n which the reels are wound.

In FIG. 1 the reel 37 in course of operation presses by its own weight on the drum 19 and is thus rotated about the axis of the mandrel V36. The reel, as shown, is practically Iat its maximum diameter at the end of the Winding. VOn the other hand, an empty mandrel 35, on which the next following reel is to be wound, is mounted in the guide channel 33.

Means .are provided for keeping theempty mandrel 35 'away from the suction drum 119 during the winding of the reel 37. .lFor 'this purpose, for example, rocking hubs 38 and 39, respectively having recesses 38a and 39a in their peripheries, may be positioned so as to act as supports for mandrels 35 and 36 respectively. The rocking hub 39 is shown in the normal position in which the corresponding mandrel is kept `away from the drum 19. 'Ilhe rocking hubs 3 8 and 39 are respectively biassed towards their normal positions by springs 41 and 42 and are actuated by electromagnets 43 and 44, respectively, to present their recesses 38a and ,39a tothe mandrels 35 and 36. In FIG. l, an electromagnet y43 is assumed to be excited so that the recess 38a of the rocking hub 38 is facing a disc 35a which is integral with the empty mandrel 35. Consequently, the latter can tall -to the lowest point of the guide channel 33 and thus come into contact with the suction drum 19.

The means for automatically discontinuing rewin-ding on the mandrel that is tull, or substantially so, comprise, in the example under consideration, electric switches 45 and 46 arranged yand so disposed relatively to the guide channels 33 and 34 that these switches are actuated when the reels formed on the mandrels 35 and 36 have reached predetermined diameters.

The operation of the rewinding device shown in FIGS. 1 .and 2, will now be described in detail with reference to FIG, 3 of the drawings.

In FIG. 3 are shown the electromagnet 18 which controls the rotary cutter 6, the electrically operated valve 24 tand the electromagnets 43 and 44 that actuate the hubs 58 and 39 for maintaining the mzandrels 35 yand 36 out of contact with the suction drum V19. Furthermore, the switches 45 and 46 are two-way switches, each comprising two movable contacts 45a, 45b and 46a, 4617 Ias shown in FIG. 3.

The suction drum 19 causes -to rotate, at the same speed, three lcams v47, 48 and y49 which aotuate contacts 51, 52 and 53 respectively. At certain points on the cycle (ie. at certain predetermined angular positions of the suction drum v1,9), these contacts yare lclosed or transferred. The angles of the contacts 51, 52 and 53 thus correspond to the moments when these contacts are actuated by their respective cams. These contacts furthermore control the excit-ation of several relays 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60 which are normally deenergized.

Let it be supposed that the reel 37 which is being wound has reached the maximum diameter envisaged. As a result the mandrel 36 actuates the switch `46 which consequently closes the contacts 46a and 46h which are normally open. The closure of contacts 46a prepares a circuit vfor relay 55 and the closure of contacts 4511 prepares a circuit for relay 54.

At .a specific point in the rotation cycle lof the suction drum 119 (this point being situated .after the suction holes 19a pass under the reel 37 'and before the rotary cutter starts `to function) the cam 47 closes the contacts 51. This energizes the relay 55, since the cont-act 46a has been closed and the contact 54h is normally closed. The oonsequent closing of the contact 55b brings about the energization of the electromagnet 18 controlling the rotary cutting device. This latter thus causes the `detent 16 (FIG. Il) to pivot, land as the cam 14 is arranged in such a way that the roller 13 is on the part 14a of the cam which is closes-t to its centre, the counter-knife 9 comes tinto contact with the knife 8 and the web of paper 3 is then cut.

The beginning of the suction holes y19a on the drum 19 is arranged in such la way that, when the web 3 is thus cut, the new end of the web comes into contact with the drum 119 slightly before the first suction hole. 'I'he rollers 4 and 5 revolving continuously at a higher circumferential speed than cylinders 1 .and 2 feed the end of the severed web to cylinders 21, 22 revolving at a circumferential speed equal to or higher than that of cylinders 4 and 5.

Cylinders 4 and 5 feed in turn the end of web 3 to cylinder 19.

At the same time yas the rotary cutter is disengaged, a partial vacuum is created in the drum- 19. It may be seen from FIG. 3 that the closing of the contact 55e causes the excitation of the relay 56, since the contact 52 yis then in the normal, unactuated, position shown. The relay 56 is kept energized by `its contact 56a which completes a locking circuit. The closing of the contact 56h energizes the electrically operated valve 24. Consequently, this latter opens at the same time as the electromagnet =18 is energized, so that a partial vacuum is caused inside the drum 19. 'Dh-us, when the new end of the severed web 3 comes into contact with the drum 19 it is held against the latter. The feeding of the new end of the web 3 is facilitated by .the belt 27 which, at this spot, Iis pressed against the periphery of the ldrum 19.

Thus the drum 19 draws the new end yof the web 3 until it is just under the empty mandrel 35, which is in the guide channel 33 and which has previously had glue applied. However, until this moment fthe mandrel 35 is kept away from the drum by the hub 38.

When the suction holes l19a of the drum 19' come under the mandrel 35, the cam 48 puts the contact 52 into the working position, so that the relay 57 is excited through the normally open contact 54e which is now closed, since the relay 54 is still kept excited by its contact 54a and the contact 46b. Thus, at this moment, the electromagnet 43 `is energized through the closing of the contact 57a which is normally open.

The hub 38 rotates so that the recess 38a allows the empty reel 35 to drop down to the bottom of the guide channel 33 and the mandrel 35 comes linto contact with the web 3 on the ldrum 19.

Simultaneously, :as cam 48 transfers contact 52 into its working position, the relay 56 is deenergized so that the contact 56h opens and the current to the electrically-operated valve 24 is cut olf. Consequently, the drum 19 y is no longer under partial vacuum.

The end of the web then leaves the drum', since it is stuck to the mandrel 3S, and the web 3 winds itself round this mandrel.

The new reel begins to form on the mandrel 35, whilst the operator will have all the time necessary to remove the old reel 37 and replace it by a new empty mandrel 36. The removal of the reel 37 causes the opening of the contacts 46a, 4Gb of the switch 46 and the de-energization of the relay 54, which re-establishes normal working conditions.

When the reel wound upon the lmandrel y36 has reached its maximum diameter, the switch 45 closes, causing the excitation of the relay 54, as previously.

The above operations are then repeated, that is to say the closing of the contact 51 by the cam 47 energizes the relay 58, thus energizing .the electromagnet 18 controlling the rotary cutting device by the closing of the contact SSb and the setting up of a p-artial vacuum in the suction drum 1-9 through the energization of the electrically operated valve 2.4 by the closed contact 59h. On the other hand, it is the cam 49 instead of the cam 48 which is active in this case, transferring the contact 53, when the holes 19a come under the mandrel 36. The transfer of this contact causes de-energization of the relay 59 and thus de-energization of the electrically-operated valve 24, so that there is no longer a partial vacuum in the drum 19.

Simultaneously, the relay 60 is excited and the closing of its contact 60a causes the feeding of current to the electromagnet 44, `so that 4the mandrel 36, to which glue has previously been applied, comes into contact with the drum 19. The web 3 then winds round this mandrel.

Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the webs to be rewound, 73 and 74, are cut lengthwise from a very ywide web 70, by means of a rotary cutting device comprising the cylinders 71 and 72. The web 73 moves upwards after leaving this rotary cutting device and the web 74 moves downwards.

Itis obvious that the web 70 could be cut simultaneouslly into several separate webs like 73 and 74, each of these being rewound on an independent u-nit.

The rewinding devices 'for the webs 73 and 74 being identical, only the device for rewindng the web 74, moving downwards, is described.

The web 74 can either be rewound on the mandrel 75 which moves in the groove 76, or on the mandrel 77 which moves in the `groove 78.

With the mandrels 75 and 77 are associated the suction dru-ms 79 and 80 respectively. Ihese drums move in rotation round their shafts 81 and 82 respectively, and are tangential to cylinder-s 83 and 84. Their peripheries have respectively perforated sections 79a and 80a occupying corresponding angular subtents. Inside these drums there are fixed cylindrical sections 79h and 80h which seal the perforated sections 79a and y80a as they pass thereover.

Above the first suction drum 79 is arranged a rotary cutting device comprising a rotary cylinder 85 carrying a knife 86 and a counter-knife 87 carried by a lever 88. 'Ilhe lever `88 is jtournalled upon a spindle 89 and has at one end a roller 90 which is pressed against a cam 91 by a spring 92.

The lever 88 has a tooth 88a which can be engaged by means of a detent 93 which is biassed by a spring 94. 'Ihe detent 93 is `actuated by an electromagnet 95.

The device for feeding the web 74 comprises -a track 96, over which the web glides, ywith the help of several pairs of feed rollers like the rollers 97 and 98.

With the suction drums 79 and 80 are associated gluing discs or drums 99 and 100 respectively, which turn continuously in trays 101 and 102 which are filled with glue. The discs 99 and 100 are mounted at tone end of levers 103 and 104 respectively, pivoting round shafts 105 and 106. The other ends of the levers 103 and 104 are actuatted by electromagnets 107 and 108 respectively and these levers are restored to their normal positions by springs 109 and 110, which thus normally keep the gluing discs 99 and 100 away from the drums 79 and 80.

In FIG. 4, the different elements are shown in the position Wlhich they occupy at the Vmoment Iwhen the reel 111 formed by the web 74 on lthe m-andrel 75 is nished.

At this moment, an electrical switch 1,12, `actuated by lthe mandrel or the reel, energizes the electromagnet 95, at a given moment of the cycle, determined by a contact closed by a cam turning in synchronization with the drums 79 and 80 in a way similar to that described in reference to FIG. 3. Consequently, the counter-knife 87 is brought into proximity to the knife 86 of the cutting device.

Simultaneously, the electromfagnet 107 is excited by lthe same contact that `disengages the mechanism of the rotary cutter. r["he gluing disc 99 which turns constantly in the tray 101 containing the glue and which is normally kept away fnom the suction drum 79, comes into contact with the web 74.

At this moment, the web is glued yand as it rotates the last turn is glued to the penultimate turn and the reel 111 is completely -nished and glued without manual intervention by the machine operator.

In the meantime, lthe electricity supply to the electromagnet 107 has been `out off by a contact actuated by a cam and the disc 99' has been moved away from the suction drum 79, before the new end of the web passes in Afront of the disc.

The new end of the cut web 74 which i-s now in front of the rotary ycutting device continues on its way instead of winding itself round the drum 79 and comes into contact with the suction drum 80, which has previously been set so that the suction holes 80u are in a correct position in relation to the new end of the web 74.

In the suction drum, the fixed cylindrical sections '79h and 80h serve to uncover progressively the suction holes 79a and 80a, so as to avoid any loss of suction when the web is d-rawn along by the drum.

The web thus winds itself round the suction drum 80 and, at the moment when it comes in front of the gluing disc 100, and this disc 100, `actuated by the electromagnet 108, comes into contact with the 'web 74, applies glue along a certain length, then moves away, through a camcontrolled contact having cut off the supply of current to the electromagnet 108.

The glued web then comes into contact with the rewind mandrel 77 at the precise moment when the suction in the drum 80 is cut off. The web winds itself round this mandrel, without its having been necessary previously to apply glue to the mandrel, as described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. This also obviates the necessity of having to keep the mandrel at a certain distance from the suction drum 80, as long as the web has not previously been rewound.

In the aforementioned devices, which have been described only by way of example, the initiation of a cycle comprising the severance of the web, the subjection of the suction drum to suction and the cutting off of the suction is effected by switches such as 45, 46 (FIG. 1), 112 (FIG. 4), these switches being actuated when a reel of web on a mandrel reaches a predetermined diameter.

According to another embodiment of the invention the initiation of said cycle could be controlled by other factors and more particularly as soon as the reel contains a predetermined number of tickets. In this event, it is only necessary to provide a totalizer for registering the number of tickets rewound on the reel and for initiating the cycle as soon as this number reaches la predetermined value. In this respect the totalizer controls, for example, a switch which is actuated when the predetermined number is reached, said switch having the same effect as the switches 45, 46, 112.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction an-d the combination `and arrangement of parts may be re- Sorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A rewinding device for receiving a web of paper or the like and rewinding it upon separate mandrels in successive reels comprising va framework, a severing device for severing the web, at least one endless suction conveyor adapted to receive the web after it leaves the severing device and perforated over a part only of the periphery, means responsive -also to a predetermined diameter of rewound web on one such mandrel for initiating effective severing action of the severing device, means for transferring the new end of the web, formed by severing, from the severing `device to the suction conveyor, at least two guide channels provided in said framework -and in which said mandrels are caused to travel so that these mandrels m-ay engage the periphery of said suction conveyor, whereby the web is severed at the end of the rewinding operation, the new end of the web formed by the sever-ance is presented to the perforated part of the conveyor periphery so as to be drawn by the suction thereagainst and to 4be conveyed thereby to the periphery of a mandrel bearing on the surface of the conveyor.

2. A rewinding device according to claim l comprising means normally precluding -an empty mandrel, located in a guide channel, from contacting the conveyor, an electrorn-agnet actuating said last named means in order to permit such contact after the effective severing action of the severing device, an electric switch controlling said electromagnet and means for actuating said switch, said last named means being moved synchronously with the conveyor.

3. A rewinding device according to claim 2 wherein said means norm-ally precluding an empty mandrel from contacting the conveyor comprises a rocking hub having a slotted periphery cooperating with the axis of the mandrel, said hub being actuated through said electromagnet.

4. A rewinding device according lto claim 1 comprising means for applying suction to the endless conveyor when the new end of the web meets the conveyor and for cutting `olf this suction when the new end of the web on the conveyor meets the periphery of a mandrel, so .that the new end may adhere to the mandrel and be stripped from the conveyor.

5. A rewinding device according to claim l wherein the `severing device comprises a rotary device having a blade arranged lto rotate through an integral number of revolutions in every complete cycle of the endless conveyor, a movable counter-blade wherewith said blade co-operates for effective severing action, and means for moving the counter-blade from a remote position to a position in which it cooperates with the blade for effective severing action.

6. A rewinding device according to claim 1, comprising a suction system, an electromagnetically operated valve interposed between said suction system and the suction conveyor, an electric switch controlling said valve, `and means for actuating said switch to On and Oli positions. said last means being moved synchronously with the suction conveyor.

7. A rewinding device according to claim l comprising a continuous travelling flexible belt stretched over part of .the conveyor surface so `as to `guide the new web end on to and to urge it against the conveyor surface.

8. A rewinding device according to claim 1, wherein a separate endless suction conveyor is provided for each mandrel.

9. A rewinding device according to claim 8 comprising a gluing device associated with each conveyor, means for moving said gluing device into effective contact with the web on the conveyor to apply glue thereto after the severance of the web by the severing device, so that the last turn on the reel is glued to the penultimate turn; and means for leading the new end of the web formed by the severance to another conveyor to be wound on an empty mandrel.

10. A rewinding device according to claim 9 comprising means for moving the gluing device associated with. said other conveyor into elective Contact with the new end of the severed web on that other conveyor so as to cause that new end to be stuck to the empty mandrel.

11. A rewinding device according to claim 8 wherein each conveyor is a rotary cylindrical drum and comprising a fixed shield occupying a segment of a circle disposed within and adjacent the Wall of the `drum to screen the perforations thereof when they pass that segment, thereby minimizing leakage of suction where the drum is not covered by the web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,065,681 Harbeck June 24, 1913 2,237,759 Kwitek Apr. s, 1941 2,599,942 Roem June 1o, 1952 10 2,830,775 Kiesei Apr. 15, 195s 

1. A REWINDING DEVICE FOR RECEIVING A WEB OF PAPER OR THE LIKE AND REWINDING IT UPON SEPARATE MANDRELS IN SUCCESSIVE REELS COMPRISING A FRAMEWORK, A SEVERING DEVICE FOR SEVERING THE WEB, AT LEAST ONE ENDLESS SUCTION CONVEYOR ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE WEV AFTER IT LEAVES THE SEVERING DEVICE AND PERFORATED OVER A PART ONLY OF THE PERIPHERY, MEANS RESPONSIVE ALSO TO A PREDETERMINED DIAMETER OF REWOUND WEB ON ONE SUCH MANDREL FOR INTIIATING EFFECTIVE SEVERING ACTION OF THE SEVERING DEVICE, MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING THE NEW END OF THE WEB, FORMED BY SEVERING, FROM THE SEVERING DEVICE TO THE SUCTION CONVEYOR, AT LEAST TWO GUIDE CHANNELS PROVIDED IN SAID FRAMEWORK AND IN WHICH SAID MANDRELS ARE CAUSED TO TRAVEL SO THAT THESE MANDRELS MAY ENGAGE THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SUCTION CONVEYOR, WHEREBY THE WEB IS SEVERED AT THE END OF THE REWINDING OPERATION, THE NEW END OF THE WEB FORMED BY THE SEVERANCE IS PRESENTED TO THE PERFORATED PART OF THE CONVEYOR PERIPHERY SO AS TO BE DRAWN BY THE SUCTION THEREAGAINST AND TO BE CONVEYED THEREBY TO THE PERIPHERY OF A MANDREL BEARING ON THE SURFACE OF THE CONVEYOR. 